Michigan Public Radio Hit Hard – 26 Stations Face Devastating Cuts Under Trump’s Defunding Order

Trump’s executive order to cut CPB funding threatens 26 Michigan public radio stations, raising fears of layoffs, program cuts, and weakened rural news coverage statewide.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on May 1 directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to “cease federal funding for NPR and PBS,” citing alleged bias. NPR officials immediately vowed to fight back. NPR CEO Katherine Maher said the network will “vigorously defend” its mission to provide “essential news” and will challenge the order “using all means available”.

She noted that CPB’s appropriation for public broadcasting is minuscule – “less than 0.0001% of the federal budget” – and called the order “an affront to the First Amendment rights of NPR and locally owned and operated stations”. (PBS President Paula Kerger similarly denounced the order as “blatantly unlawful”, as many look to Michigan public radio for reliable information, these cuts are concerning.

Michigan’s Public Radio Stations Affected

Michigan broadcasters say local service is on the line. The state has 26 public radio stations in networks such as the University of Michigan’s Michigan Public, Central Michigan University’s CMU Public Radio, Interlochen Public Radio, Grand Valley State’s WGVU Public Media, Eastern Michigan University’s WEMU, Detroit’s WDET, and others. Michigan Public General Manager Wendy Turner warned that the order “directly destabilizes” the long-standing partnership between local stations and national networks.

A statement from WEMU noted that many stations rely on CPB grants for infrastructure, emergency alerts, and local journalism, so the cuts would have “significant impacts…especially for smaller stations who serve more rural communities”. Casey Jones of the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters, whose group represents 11 Michigan stations, said some rural affiliates would lose “more than 34% of their funding overnight” under the order. Likewise, WKAR (MSU’s Lansing station) content director Ashlee Smith called it “very devastating to think about the potential impact” nationwide.

Operating Budget Impacts on Michigan Public Radio Stations

The financial hit could be steep, even though federal support was modest. WEMU said its annual CPB grant covers one full-time position, about half its payment to NPR, and emergency-alert costs – roughly 8% of its budget (about $135,000 a year). WGVU reported that its CPB grant underpins children’s programming, the emergency alert system, and other services, about 18% of its roughly $7.7 million budget (around $1.4 million).

University of Michigan’s Michigan Public said CPB funds made up about 6.5% of its budget (over $500,000) last year. Station leaders warn that without this support, essential news and cultural programs could be cut or delayed. WEMU and WGVU both noted that losing CPB aid would “hinder our work” and create “significant ripple effects” for smaller stations, especially those serving rural parts of the state.

NPR funding loss

NPR and public media advocates have moved to block the cuts. In a written statement, NPR said it will challenge the order in court and urged Congress to reject any funding rescission. Maher’s statement stressed the value of public radio’s local-national partnership. She pointed out that NPR programming generates half of all public radio listening, even though it accounts for about 25% of local stations’ content, and that every dollar of federal funding typically generates $7 in local support.

Local station officials are now urging listeners to contact their representatives to protect public media. The outcome remains unclear, but Michigan’s NPR affiliates say any loss of CPB funding could force tough decisions on staffing, programming, or services in underserved rural communities.

Sources: Official statements and news reports from Michigan public radio outlets, NPR, and public broadcasting organizations.

List of Michigan Public Radio Stations

Listeners depend on Michigan public radio for in-depth coverage of local issues.

Michigan Public (University of Michigan)

The Michigan Public Network offers NPR news and talk programming across much of the state:

• WUOM 91.7 FM – Ann Arbor/Detroit
• WVGR 104.1 FM – Grand Rapids
• WFUM 91.1 FM – Flint
• WLNZ 89.7 FM – Lansing
• WRSX 91.3 FM – Port Huron

These stations are part of the Michigan Public network, providing NPR and Michigan news, events, politics, arts/culture, and environmental coverage.

---

Central Michigan University Public Radio

CMU Public Radio operates a regional network focused on news, talk, and cultural programming:

• WCMU-FM 89.5 FM – Mount Pleasant
• WCML-FM 91.7 FM – Alpena
• WCMV-FM 94.3 FM – Leland
• WCMW-FM 103.9 FM – Harbor Springs
• WCMB-FM 95.7 FM – Oscoda
• WWCM-FM 96.9 FM – Standish
• WUCX-FM 90.1 FM – Bay City

These stations are part of Central Michigan University Public Radio, providing a variety of programming.

---

Interlochen Public Radio (IPR)

Local voices are amplified through Michigan public radio’s programming. Interlochen Public Radio (IPR) operates two distinct services:

Classical IPR:

• WIAA 88.7 FM – Interlochen
• WIAB 88.5 FM – Mackinaw City
• W234BU 94.7 FM – Traverse City

IPR News Radio:

• WICA 91.5 FM – Traverse City
• WHBP 90.1 FM – Harbor Springs
• WLMN 89.7 FM – Manistee/Ludington

These stations provide classical music and news programming.

---

WGVU Public Media (Grand Valley State University)

Serving West Michigan with NPR and local programming:

• WGVU-FM 88.5 FM – Grand Rapids
• WGVS-FM 95.3 FM – Muskegon

These stations are part of WGVU Public Media, offering PBS and NPR content.

---

WDET 101.9 FM (Wayne State University)

Detroit’s NPR station, offering a mix of national and local news, music, and cultural programming.

---

WEMU 89.1 FM (Eastern Michigan University)

Based in Ypsilanti, WEMU provides NPR news and a strong focus on jazz and blues music.

---

WMUK 102.1 FM (Western Michigan University)

Without Michigan public radio, many communities would lack representation. Located in Kalamazoo, WMUK offers NPR news and classical music programming.

---

WNMU-FM 90.1 FM (Northern Michigan University)

Many programs on Michigan public radio highlight local talent and stories. Serving the Upper Peninsula from Marquette, WNMU-FM provides NPR news and classical music.

---

Additional Public Radio Stations

Other notable public radio stations in Michigan include:

• WKAR-FM 90.5 FM – East Lansing (Michigan State University)
• WRSX 91.3 FM – Port Huron (St. Clair County RESA)

These stations offer a variety of NPR and local programming across the state.